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Costco, Nordstrom and BJ's Wholesale Club are among the retailers bucking the trend this year by sticking to their tradition of closing stores on Thanksgiving and kicking off the official holiday shopping season on Black Friday. Even the many chains including Macy's, Wal-Mart, Target and J.C. Penney that do plan to open on Thanksgiving Day will stay dark in Massachusetts, where statewide blue laws prevent them from doing business on the holiday.

The National Retail Federation expects a 3.7% rise in holiday spending this year, to $630.5 billion. To help make it happen, many retailers are offering discounts and Thanksgiving Day sales. Some retailers aren't opening earlier this Thanksgiving than they have in previous years, while other companies, such as TJ Maxx and Costco, aren't opening on the holiday at all.

Retailers are in the midst of preparing for the holiday season, which some early reports indicate will be a bit better than the 2013 season. Holiday gift spending is on track to rise more than 8%, according to Prosper Insights & Analytics, and wealthier consumers will boost spending at retailers including Gap, Amazon, Costco, Macy's, Sam's Club and Nordstrom.

A growing number of national retailers aim to grab more sales by kicking off the holiday shopping season on Thanksgiving instead of waiting for Black Friday. Consumers are getting an even earlier start, with 50% starting their shopping in early October, according to an NRF survey, but experts say earlier shopping doesn't necessarily translate to higher spending. "You don't have more relatives, and you certainly don't have more money in your pocket because stores are open more hours," NPD Group's Marshal Cohen said.

Same-store sales at retail chains including Macy's, Target, Costco, Limited Brands and Gap beat predictions in January, and collectively retailers booked their strongest month in more than a year as consumers turned out and spent on post-holiday sales. January also marked the last time Macy's, Kohl's, Target and Nordstrom will report monthly same-store sales.